Open-center snow track



25, 1 945. w. H. HANSEN I OPEN-CENTER snow TRACK Filed Oct. 8, 1943 2 sheets sheet an sen i Sept. 25, 1945. r w; H. HANSEN 2,385,758

OPEN-CENTER snow TRACK Filed Oct. 8, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 3mm MZZZWH. Ha

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Patented Sept. 25, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE OPEN-CENTER SNOW TRACK Walter H. Hansen, Ephraim, Utah Application October 8, 1943, Serial No. 505,522

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a snow track for use on tractors or other self-propelled vehicles.

It is particularly aimed to provide a construction which will avoid the binding or clogging of snow between the tire and track and to this end to provide one wherein the center is open.

In addition, I aim to provide across the opencenter a novel and efiicient means which will scrape or deflect the snow and aid in rendering the construction self-clearing.

The more specific objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the description following taken in connection with accompanying drawings illustratin an operative embodiment.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation, showing the track applied to a tractor or self-propelled vehicle;

Figure 2 is a side elevation illustrating a plate and its connection, of the track;

Figure 3 is an edge View of one of the plates taken at a right angle to Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a section taken on the 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary plan view of one of the plates and its connection;

Figure 6 is an inverted plan view of one of the plates and its connection, and

Figure '7 is a section taken on the line 1-! of Figure 5.

Referring specifically to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate like or similar parts, a tractor or other self-propelled vehicle is conventionally shown at H), the same having wheels I I, equipped with pneumatic or other tires as at l2. Although the wheels of one side alone are shown, it will be obvious that the opposite side of the vehicle I is similarly equipped with three wheels and tires.

In accordance with my invention, an endless track is provided as generally designated [3 in Figure 1 which is made up'of any desired number of sections M which obviously may be made of metal, wood, rubber, plastics or any other material or combination of materials and in any sizes or dimensions. Each section consists of a pair of plates l which are spaced apart at [6 to provide an open-center. Such plates are rigidly connected together in parallelism by cross bars ll located at one end, The plates have eyelets [8 at the end opposite to the bar I! which are adapted to interfit with recesses in the opposite ends of adjacent plates and-be pivotally or flexibly connected therewith by pintles l9 passing through the eyelets l8 and carried by the other ends of the adjacent plates.

plane of line In order to maintain the track in position surrounding the wheels and tires as shown, guides 20 are provided on the under surfaces of such plates and hence there will be guides 29 located on each side of the wheels and tires. Angularly divergent braces 2| are disposed on the under surfaces of the plates, preferably being integral therewith. I

A particular mounting of the plates provides an open-center and the tires at their periphery are in contact with the bars I l and with bars 22 so that the track will be driven by the power applied to the wheels II and tires I2.

Bars II, in addition, serve to scrape snow from the wheels and the bars 22 also serve to scrape snow from and adjacent the wheels in order to maintain an open-center track. It will be noted that the bars 22 are out of parallelism to the bars I! or angularly disposed, with a view to better deflecting the snow and maintaining the desired clearance for travel.

It will be realized that I have shown but one track l3 for the vehicle ill but that in actual use, preferably one track l3 will be used for the wheels of each of the two sides of the vehicle I0.

Various changes may be resorted to provided they fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. An endless track of the class described, consisting of articulate sections, each section consisting of laterally spaced apart plates, bars rigidly joining the plates at one end of the plates and adapted for tractive engagement with wheels,

means pivotally connecting the plates together at their ends, and scraper means connected to the plates and crossing said space.

2. An endless track of the class described, consisting of articulate sections, each section consisting of laterally spaced apart plates, bars joining the plates and adapted for tractive engagement with wheels, and scraper means connected to the plates and crossing said space, and guide means on the plates to position thesame laterally with respect to the wheels.

3. An endless track of the class described, consisting of articulate sections, each section consisting of laterally spaced apart plates, bars joining the, plates and adapted for tractive engagement with wheels, and scraper means connected to the plates and crossing said space, guide means on the plates to position the same laterally with respect to the wheels, and angularly disposed braces on the underside of the plates.

WALTER H. HANSEN. 

